Nation
FG Okays AstraZeneca Vaccine 2nd Dose For Eligible Nigerians
The Federal Government will now begin administering the second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines on eligible Nigerians who received the first shots.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, made this known during the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) briefing in Abuja.
Shuaib advised health workers, frontline workers aged 18 years and above and persons aged 50 years and above to visit any designated vaccination site to receive the vaccine free of charge.
“I want to remind you that the eligibility period between the first and second doses of the vaccine has been expanded from 12 weeks to between six to 12 weeks, in line with the scientific recommendation provided by the World Health Organisation’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE on immunization).
”The PSC has approved the second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccination in all states of the federation and the FCT.
“We have redeployed Senior Supervisors to the states and have continued to monitor activities with daily evening review meetings to determine the status of the Covid-19 vaccine implementation in all states and the FCT.
“These meetings, allows us to receive reports from the sub-national level on how the campaigns are proceeding, what challenges they face, and how we can pro-actively anticipate and resolve any impending challenges.
”The meetings also provide an avenue to troubleshoot and resolve any operational hurdles as they emerge, before they become problematic,” he explained.
He said that as was recorded the polio virus eradication fight, the agency is strengthening the Covid-19 vaccination campaign at community level with Town Hall meetings across the country.
”Already we held the North-Central Zonal Town Hall Meeting two weeks ago in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State.
”In weeks ahead, the agency hopes to continue the dialogue in other geo-political zones of the country.
“The town hall meetings afford the communities the opportunity to directly participate in dialogue with the government as we work to protect the people against the pandemic.
“We know that many people are very concerned about the health threats posed by Covid-19, but also about the economic threats.
”The meetings allow for views and concerns to be heard as we work together to move beyond Covid-19 as a nation,” he said.
The NPHCDA boss urged Nigerians to continue to cooperate with vaccinators who were providing an incredibly important service to the nation amid this global crisis.
He added that the government would ensure that only safe and efficacious vaccines were supplied for all phases of the vaccination campaign in the country.
“We would like to state our appreciation to the Nigerian citizens for the cooperation they are providing to our vaccination teams across the country.
”We are continuing to optimise our registration and immunization data system, to maximize the efficiency of this system.
“The need to protect ourselves and put Covid-19 behind us, the way we have done to polio, so that we can return to our normal living, truly is a national effort,” he stated.
Nation
NCSU Consoles Elder Statesman Over Daughter’s Death …Tasks Elected Unit Executives On Service Delivery
The Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has extended its condolence to an elder statesman in Rivers State, High Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe over the untimely death of his daughter during child birth, describing it as saddening and unfortunate, and called on the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) chieftain to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.
This is even as NCSU has called on the newly elected executives of the union at the unit level and Ministries in the State Civil Service, to be dedicated to their duties, as well as deliver services that would further help the State to retain its prime position in the comity of States.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who gave the indication in Port Harcourt, said the union seriously empathises and sympathises with Chief Sara-Igbe over the daughter’s death, and urged him never to allow the sad incident to weigh him down, but to remain strong, firm and resolute in championing the cause of Rivers State even in the face of such a tragedy.
Osumah noted that the union is particularly sad over the unfortunate incident, because of the kind of support Chief Sara-Igbe has been giving Governor Siminalayi Fubara, describing him as a true pillar of strength to the Governor, and enjoined him to continue to contribute meaningfully to the progress and development of the State in spite of obvious challenges and drawbacks.
According to him, history would be kind to Chief Sara-Igbe, when the chips are down, owing to his immense contributions to the State and also for standing on the side of truth, justice, equity and fairness,when it matters most.
Commenting on the election of new unit executives of the union, Osumah said he was glad over the development, and urged the new union officials to be good ambassadors of their units and the union.
He said delivering selfless services to the people of the State should always be their priority, and congratulated them on their successful elections.
Nation
RSG Donates Transformer To Rehabilitation Centre
The Rivers State Government has donated a 500KVA transformer to the Rivers State Rehabilitation Centre, Iriebe in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The State Commissioner for Power, Prince Solomon Abel Eke, who handed over the transformer to the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mr Illamu Arugu thanked Governor Siminalaye Fubara for the approval and release of the transformer, adding that it would go a long way in solving the power problem at the centre.
“I want to thank God for the Governor that we have, who takes time to look at things meticulously and ensures that our people get service for what they are doing”.
He said following the request by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation for a transformer for the rehab centre, a team of engineers from the Ministry of Power were sent to the area to take cognizance of everything that they need.
“I can assure you that what we are doing or what we are going to do here is going to put to rest everything about power.
“The capacity of this transformer you have here will take care of you even the neighbouring enviroment”, Abel Eke said.
He emphasised the need for them to preserve the transformer, stressing that the transformer has the capacity to generate and distribute electricity within the centre and neighborhood.
The commissioner warned them against allowing people to scale their fence to either vandalise or steal the transformer and described the gesture as a road map for constant power supply in the State.
“We are the only State that has three generating stations in the entire nation and we practically moving towards enjoying 24 hour- power supply in Rivers State”, he added.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, MrArugu Illamu who was elated for the donation, said it was based on a request by the rehabilitation centre, when he visited the area recently.
Illamu equally thanked Governor Fubara for the gesture and the promptness to which their request was attended to and noted that it was coming at a time the people needed the transformer badly.
He said even caregivers in the centre also needed power, adding that “it is coming at a time that they need it most”.
Mr Ilamu also commended the Governor for approving transformer to the Safe Home, Borokiri, adding that the Governor has so far given approval for the three transformers requested by the Ministry and prayed that the last transformers for the Children Home and Remand Home should be delivered as well for them to have some level of succour.
He said the gesture will go a long way to alleviate the sufferings of the people by allowing them to enjoy what he called “ the basics of life”.
Iriebe John Bibor
Nation
Community Hails Fubura Over Perm Sec’s Appointment
The people of Ogbogolo kingdom in Ahoada -West Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for the appointment of their i daughter, Dr. Mrs Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu as the Permanent Secretary of theMinistry of Education.
The Paramount Ruler of the community, King James Rowland, Obenema-Ibe III of Ogbogolo Kingdom made the commendation when he led a delegation of elite members of his kingdom on a courtesy visit to the office of the Permanent Secretary at the State Secretariat complex in Port Harcourt, Wednesday.
The Paramount Ruler asserted that Dr Uzoma-Nwogu was the first person from his Kingdom to be given an enviable appointment as a Permanent Secretary, stressing that Ogbogolo Kingdom is very appreciative of the Governor for the honour done to their daughter and the Kingdom at large.
He further prayed God Almighty to give her the wisdom and grace to carry out her duties effectively as would be required by her office and later presented her with an award of honour in recognition of her appointment as Permanent Secretary.
Also speaking, one of the elites in the Kingdom and university lecturer,Dr. Arobo R.C Amachree ,who is the Head of Department of Physics, Rivers State University described the elevation of Dr. Uzoma-Nwogu as meritorious and thanked the Governor for remembering the people of Ogbogolo and prayed God’s wisdom on His Excellency to continue to govern the state while pledging their support.
In her response, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Uzoma-Nwogu thanked her kinsmen for identifying with and for the respect and honour they accorded her and solicited for their support and prayers.
Akujobi Amadi
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